In Uganda’s central Masaka district, farmers are counting the cost of a relentless four‑month drought that has withered maize, beans, and millet fields across 3,200 hectares. The Uganda Meteorological Agency confirmed that rainfall levels were 78 % below average between January and April, leading to soil cracks and failed germination. Local cooperative leader Samuel Kato estimates total crop losses at roughly UGX 1.2 billion (US$ 320,000), pushing many families toward food insecurity. The Ministry of Agriculture has pledged emergency food aid and is urging donors to fund irrigation projects, while NGOs warn that without swift intervention, the region could see a spike in malnutrition rates.
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